Abortion doctor's murderer must serve 50 years

A fanatic who murdered a doctor who performed late-term abortions was sentenced to life in prison and must serve 50 years - the maximum allowed by US law - before he can apply for parole.

Scott Roeder, 52, faced a mandatory life prison term for gunning down Dr George Tiller in the back of the doctor's church in Wichita, Kansas, last May.

Defiant to the end, he showed no remorse during yesterday's sentencing hearing and sought to justify his crime by describing abortion procedures in gritty and graphic detail.

"I stopped him so he could not dismember another innocent baby," Roeder said. "Wichita is a far safer place for unborn babies without George Tiller."

Sedgwick County District Judge Warren Wilbert had the choice to make Roeder eligible for parole after 25 or 50 years, but said he gave him the harsher sentence because evidence showed Roeder stalked Dr Tiller before killing him.

As he was led away in handcuffs, Roeder shouted: "Blood of babies on your hands."

Judge Wilbert also sentenced Roeder to serve an additional year in prison on each of two counts of aggravated assault for threatening two church ushers.

Allowing for possible time off those sentences for good behaviour, Roeder will not be eligible for parole for 51 years and eight months.

In a rambling statement, Roeder - who at his trial said he killed Dr Tiller to save unborn children - blamed his death primarily on the state for not outlawing abortion and interrupted Judge Wilbert several times as the judge discussed the sentence from the bench.

Roeder accused the judge of "duplicity" and said his trial was a miscarriage of justice because he was not allowed to present evidence about the evils of abortion and said God's judgment against the US would "sweep over this land like a prairie wind".

"He will avenge every drop of innocent blood," Roeder said.

Earlier yesterday, Lee Thompson, Dr Tiller's friend and lawyer who was representing the Tiller family, asked Judge Wilbert to give Roeder the harshest sentence possible, saying anything less would encourage other anti-abortion fanatics to follow in his footsteps.

"It will happen again and again," Mr Thompson said. "This is domestic terrorism. This act will be repeated by this person if he ever sees the light of day again."

Thompson described Dr Tiller as a devoted husband, father and grandfather and a strong believer in women's rights. As he spoke, Dr Tiller's widow, Jeanne, cried. Roeder at times looked away, yawned and took a drink of water.

"The impact of his death on women throughout the world is like an earthquake," Mr Thompson said. "They ask, 'Where can I go? What will I do?'. I have to say, 'I'm sorry, I can't tell you'. That's the impact of this crime."

District attorney Nola Foulston told the court Roeder had stalked Dr Tiller for years. Roeder testified in January that he had previously taken a gun into the doctor's church and had checked out the gated sub-division where Dr Tiller lived and the clinic where he practised.

Security was tight for the hearing, with explosive-detecting dogs sniffing reporters' equipment beforehand.

Four Sedgwick County sheriff's deputies were on duty outside the court yesterday, along with several agents from both the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.